Schools

Shelley Smith was Head of Future Schools at the Dragon for many years and formed excellent relationships with top independent schools across the UK. She is hugely knowledgeable about the assessment criteria and selection processes of a wide range of schools and is very experienced in helping and guiding parents with their decision making. Parents will be in very safe hands working with Shelley!

I have worked with Shelley for over ten years, and I would recommend her to anyone who wishes to navigate the tricky path of selecting a senior school in the UK. She has a deep-rooted knowledge of the leading independent senior schools, and you can trust her judgement and advice implicitly.

I have worked with Shelley for over 15 years and have always found her to be highly efficient, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. She offers clear, insightful guidance and is deeply committed to achieving the best outcomes for her pupils.

During my time as Admissions Director, I have very much enjoyed working with Shelley. I have valued the experience that she has developed through working in the prep school world for the best part of twenty years. She has always shown the greatest integrity, putting the interests of the child front and centre at what is a key point in their development. Shelley is also most generous and accessible in her dealings with people, and I am sure that anxious parents always feel themselves to be in a safe pair of hands.

Shelley has been a delight to work with over the years. She knows the senior schools well and is insightful about which school will suit each individual child. She remains steadfastly focused on the child's wellbeing and seeks out the educational environment in which they will flourish.

Shelley Smith combines unparalleled knowledge of UK boarding schools with a genuine commitment to every child's wellbeing and success. She leaves no stone unturned in identifying the right educational environment and ensuring each student receives the tailored guidance and support they need to flourish.

Although I have only had the pleasure of working with Shelley for one academic year, we quickly established a strong and positive rapport.

Shelley has an incredible instinct for what’s right for each student and always goes the extra mile to make sure they land fantastic offers from top schools. Nothing is ever too much trouble.

While I was sorry to hear of her departure from The Dragon, I was equally delighted to learn that she will remain within the sector, where her exceptional skill set will undoubtedly continue to nurture and guide many more students. She has such a brilliant mix of experience, care, and good sense, and makes a real difference to the students in her care.

I very much look forward to continuing what has been a short but highly rewarding collaboration for many years to come.

As Registrar of Winchester College, I talked to Shelley on many occasions about boys wanting to come to Winchester. I found her friendly, well-informed and always happy to help. She knew what was required and it was a pleasure dealing with her.